USC-Notre Dame Series on Hold: Notre Dame Nears Deal with BYU for 2026-27 Season
One of the most iconic rivalries in college football, the USC-Notre Dame series, is taking a break. After unsuccessful negotiations, both schools are looking for replacement opponents for the 2026 season. Notre Dame is close to finalizing a two-year deal with BYU for games in 2026-27. This pause in the USC-Notre Dame series is a rare occurrence, as the two teams have played consecutively for nearly 80 years, except for a break during World War II and the COVID-impacted 2020 season.
The USC-Notre Dame series is steeped in history, boasting 24 national championships, 15 Heisman trophies, and over 1,000 NFL draftees between the two teams. Despite its rich tradition, scheduling conflicts and College Football Playoff implications led to the series being put on hold. Recent discussions between the schools' administrators failed to reach an agreement, with USC citing concerns about the timing of the game affecting their playoff chances.
While USC and Notre Dame are working to restart the series as early as 2030, Notre Dame is expected to announce a new series with BYU. This decision comes after Notre Dame opted out of a bowl game and faced criticism for their CFP selection comments. Notre Dame's scheduling challenges as an independent program in FBS have been a topic of discussion in college athletics, with the team having a guaranteed path to the CFP if they finish in the top 12.
Despite the pause in the USC-Notre Dame series, Notre Dame continues to schedule high-profile matchups. The team has upcoming games against Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan State, as well as a long-term agreement with Clemson. Notre Dame's willingness to play top programs showcases their commitment to competitive scheduling and tradition in college football.